64W-6.001. Definitions

(1) “Active Employment” is defined as being employed by the employer on the first day of the application period and remaining employed by the same employer through issuance of an award pursuant to Rule 64W-6.005, F.A.C.

(2) “Dentist” means a person licensed to practice dentistry pursuant to Chapter 466, F.S.

(3) “Direct patient care hours” are defined as in-person, one-on-one, face-to-face care with live patients. Hours spent providing telemedicine services, teaching/learning (including rounds), performing research, conducing administrative duties, traveling, or conferring with others are not direct patient care hours.

(4) “Federally funded health center” means a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) and FQHC Look-Alike designated by the Federal Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).

(5) “FRAMEdental” means the Dental Student Loan Repayment Program established pursuant to section 381.4019, F.S.

(6) “Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA)” means a geographic area, an area having a special population, or a facility, as designated by the Federal Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). This definition includes sections 381.4019(1)(a) and (d), F.S.

(7) “Lender” means any entity involved in making, holding, consolidating, originating, servicing, or guaranteeing any loan to students to finance higher education expenses. This includes lenders who provide private educational loans as well as lenders who provide loans that are made, insured, or guaranteed by the U.S. Department of Education.

(8) “New participating dentist” is a dentist who has never received any funds through the FRAMEdental program after the first state fiscal year of the loan program.

(9) “Public health program” means a county health department, the Children’s Medical Services program, a federally funded community health center (a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) and FQHC Look-Alike designated by the HRSA) or a federally funded migrant health center, any publicly funded health care program, or a nonprofit health care program.

(a) A publicly funded health care program is an organization or business that provides healthcare and is funded by either the federal government, the State of Florida, or a local government. Acceptance of Medicare and Medicaid does not render a program publicly funded.

(b) A nonprofit health care program is an organization or business that provides healthcare and is registered as a nonprofit with the Florida Department of State or approved for 501(c)(3) status by the Internal Revenue Service.

(10) “Qualified loan” means a federal and/or private student loan with a U.S.-based financial institution that has a verified principal balance remaining which loan proceeds were used to pay educational expenses enumerated in section 381.4019(3)(b), F.S., incurred by students for studies leading to dental licensure. Loans whose proceeds were used for any educational expenses that did not directly lead to dental licensure are not qualified loans. Loans from an individual or entity that does not meet the definition of lender are not qualified loans.

(11) “State fiscal year” means the period of time from July 1 of one calendar year to June 30 of the next calendar year.

(12) “U.S.-based financial institution” means any financial institution headquartered within the United States. Financial institutions headquartered outside of the U.S., even if they have branches in the U.S., are not U.S.-based financial institutions.

(13) This rule will be reviewed and repealed, modified, or renewed through the rulemaking process 5 years from the effective date.

Rulemaking Authority 381.4019 FS. Law Implemented 381.4019 FS. History – New 2-15-24.